BIRTH OF AN HEIR TO THE THRONE OF FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 388, 23 July 1856, Page 5

BIRTH OF AN HEIR TO THE THRONE OF FRANCE.

(From the Correspondent of the "Daily News.")

Paris:, Sunday evening, March 15.—This day adds another to the many instances of the great good fcrtune which Ims attended Napoleon HI. His dearest wishes as a husb'iid and the founder of a dynasty are fulfilled. He has a son anil heir, whose advent into this world has indeed been ace unpanied with a full measure of that suffering entailed upon the children r?f Eve by the primeval civse, but who has at last been born under circumstances as favourable as possible both for mother and child. The imperial infant, us I learn from a credable eye-witness, aud wot from the tattle of courtiers, is really as fine and robust a boy as ever was seen. He is described as rosy, plump, well made, fully developed, and with a surprising-abundance of eliesnut-coloured hair, resembling his lather's. The name given to him is Napoleon Eugene Louis Jean Joseph. The reasons for these names are very simple. He is called Napoleon Louis after his father; Eugene from his "mother Eugenic; Jean after the Pope, who is to be his godfather} aud

Joseph in compliment to his intended godmother, the Queen of Sweden, whose name is Josephine.

[fee birth of the infant (which the ' Daily News'correspondent chronicles with a minuteness to details worthy of a midwife) occurred a.omit ;i quarter past three o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 15th of March. The chil ! iVstated to be a remarkably fine and healthy one ; and it is added that as soon as it was safely ushered into the world, the Emperor wept copiously, and falling upon the neck ol his cousin, Prince Napoleon, said to him, "You will, I am sure, love ai d protect this child.'"]

The half baptism (ondoiement) took place at 12 o'clock, with the ceremonies described in the programme already published.

101 guns fired from the invalides at daybreak announced the tidings to Paris.

A bulletin published at four o'clock this afternoon states that the health of the Empress and the Imperial Prinec is excellent.

Within a few minutes of the birth of the Prince, at a quarter past three this morning, the Emperor sent messages in his own name announcing the event to the Pope, the Queen of England, the King of Piedmont, the Queen of Sweden, the Grand Duchess Dowager of Baden, and T believe some other courts. It is a very curious fact, as showing not only the wonders of the electric telegraph, but also the activity of great personages at hours when the world at large is wrapped in sleep, that telegraphic messages of congratulation were received in answer before ft o'clock from the Pope, Queen Victoria, and the Qneen of Sweden.

TheSeuaie and the Corps Legislatif remained the whole of yesterday in their respective places waiting for the announcement of the event. To beguile the tedium of the long hours of expectancy, they not only made ample provision of eatames, champagne, and cigars, but sent for .music, and invited their wives and daughters to keep them company. After remaing en permanence till half past one in the morning, a message was from the palace, giving them leave to go home. They could, however, have had but little sleep, for between three ana four o'clock most of the members were knocked up by their private messengers bringing the great news, and by eight o'clock they were again assembled in pubiic sitting, waiting to receive the official communication of the intelligence. The Senate, as they are compelled to do by the constitution, sat with closed doors. jTo the Corps Legislatif the public were admitted. The proceedings were \ery short. The president, Count de Moruy, on taking the chair, in a voice betraying much emotion,—'' Gentlemen, this night at four o'clock, the Emperor sent an orderly officer to inform the Cmps Legislatif of the happy deliverance of the Empress. Her Majesty gave birth to an Imperial Prince at a quarter past three. (Cries of' Vive l'Empereur,' (rum all pans of the house.) I see, gentlemen, (continued the Count "de Moray) that pm participate in the joy of all France." "Vive i'Empereui','' cried the President, " Vive l'lm ■ pera trice," " Vive le Prince Imperial." After an announcement that tie Ci-rps 1 ejidarif would he received at the Tnileries by the Emperor tout irrow, the house adjourned till after Passion week. The Municipal Council on receiving the news immediately voted a of 200,000 francs for the poor, of which 100,000 are to he employed in redeeming 1 eddmg _ ledged at the Mont de Pie:e. and the other 100 000 francs iv paying the nurses of poor mothers who ate iv an ear. Such tin immense number of presents for the Empress and the Imperial infant have lately been sent to Paris, that it has been found absolutely necessary to send oruers to ad the the railway stations and diligence offices in the cnuniiy not to recfivj any puieeis for sucti a d sdnarion. Mmli IS.—To-day, at 2 o'clock, the Stnate and (he Legislative Corns waited upon the Emperor to congratulate him upon the occasicii of the birth of the Imperial Prince. lis Majesty replied with emotion to ti.e audtvss_p: M.'de'Movny. lie called to mind that the Napoleon dynasty had emanated from unpeople, that it bad exp; lienced b»'. v M- ;|'-s ;'"' trial, and that the Imperial P-inec was bom vi the miilst ol tiie hopes ot peace, _ _ Count de S.mnaz, the special envoy oi tne King .if Sardinia, had the honour ol being received hv the Kmncror on Stitmay, ami oi presenting" to his Majesty an autograoa letter from King Victor Ihnmauuel, conveying congratulations on the birth of the Prince Impi-xuU,

A solemn service of thanksgiving was celebrated on Saturday iv the Jewish synagogues of Paris, for the happy delivery of the Empress, and the birth of the Prince Imperial. The service took place at nine in the morning, m the Jewish place of worship, Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth, and in the 'afternoon iv the syna-..-00-ue of the Portuguese Jews for the second arrondissement. The Grand Rabbi Isidor delivered on the occasion an appropriate address, which produced a powerful effect on the congregation.